Papoetag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-858665667879626362011-12-01T07:21:01-08:00A mixed bag of babies and a blogTypePadBaby Liberation Daytag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a0120a8c9270b970b015437a7fe51970c2011-12-01T07:21:01-08:002011-12-01T07:21:01-08:00Sunday was Baby Liberation Day. The day, two years ago, that our baby girl came home. We explained to Jocelyn that we were celebrating the day that she met her baby sister—the day that she got so excited that she involuntarily pooped her pants. Okay, so she was only a...Papoe

Sunday was Baby Liberation Day. The day, two years ago, that our baby girl came home. We explained to Jocelyn that we were celebrating the day that she met her baby sister—the day that she got so excited that she involuntarily pooped her pants. Okay, so she was only a year a half, but it was her first reaction to the little bit named Aja. Within a day we were living our new normal. Normal these days is full of lots of laughter and tantrums and sisterly love (and fights). Aja is the tormentor and Jocelyn is bossy and they are showing me signs of my future with two teenage girls. The eye rolling has begun and I can’t stop it.

Along with the great escape from baby jail, we have observed many other moments of growth and fun.

Halloween 2011

Yo Gabba Gabba Live

Making biscuits with Nana for Thanksgiving

Baby Liberation Day cupcakes

And for old times sake, I introduce the day they met:

Warmers mahketstag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a0120a8c9270b970b014e8a80bee4970d2011-08-09T09:18:51-07:002011-08-09T09:18:51-07:00Jocelyn (speaking to her dolly): We're going to go to the warmers mahket, okay? Me: Jocelyn, what are you going to buy? Jocelyn: We're going to go to the warmers mahket and buy cheese and pizza and wine. I can look back when I'm older and feel content, knowing that...Papoe

Jocelyn (speaking to her dolly): We're going to go to the warmers mahket, okay?

Me: Jocelyn, what are you going to buy?

Jocelyn: We're going to go to the warmers mahket and buy cheese and pizza and wine.

I can look back when I'm older and feel content, knowing that I taught her something.

Snoop Dogg just needs a big bowl. Aka, What I’m Reading: Food Edition.tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a0120a8c9270b970b01538ee8488e970b2011-06-02T21:18:14-07:002011-06-02T21:20:25-07:00This morning First Lady Michelle Obama unveiled MyPlate, the federal government’s new food group icon, created to replace the old food pyramid. In short, it’s about healthy eating. This led to an interesting back and forth over facebook. A friend posted a link to Nourishing the Children, which has its...Papoe

This morning First Lady Michelle Obama unveiled MyPlate, the federal government’s new food group icon, created to replace the old food pyramid. In short, it’s about healthy eating. This led to an interesting back and forth over facebook. A friend posted a link to Nourishing the Children, which has its own food pyramid, showing images of food, with an emphasis on quality and how things are grown (farm raised versus wild). My first thought when I saw this new pyramid was, “What the hell is that?” That, being a picture of organ meats.

The back and forth started because I find this nourishing pyramid unrealistic. The point of the government releasing dietary guidelines is to encourage healthy eating. A person that consumes large amounts of sugar and processed foods cannot be expected to change their diet to raw milk and organ meats. Organic organ meats.

Baby steps.

I do agree with healthy eating and I try to practice it at home. I’ve been frustrated that the First Lady’s Let’s Move Campaign has been vilified, called anti-family, or even anti-american. Get your racist partisan politics out of my kitchen Palin-ites. But I also get frustrated with the crunchy nature of the Nourishing pyramid. I may be from California but I don't like broccoli sprouts on my sandwich. The truth is, if you are that conscious of what you are eating, you don’t need a pyramid, pie chart, line graph or venn diagram to illustrate what to put in your body.

Like I said, I try and eat healthy. We push as many vegetables as we can at the girls. We shop at farmer’s markets. The girls only drink water or milk at home and we rarely give them dessert. Not in a strict, sugar is evil kind of way, but because then if we’re out at a friend’s they can drink juice and eat cookies until the sugar rush has spun their head around 180 degrees.

Still, I like to eat. For you Top Chef fans, when we were in DC last week we visited Spike Mendelsohn’s Good Stuff Eatery where I orderd the aptly titled Prez Obama Burger [Applewood Bacon, Onion Marmalade, Roquefort Cheese & Delicious Horseradish Mayo Sauce). Yum. So in honor of MyPlate, here’s what’s on my reading plate this week.

Foodgawker is a eye candy for your appetite, particularly if you have a sweet tooth. Between the cakes and pies and cookies, there’s the occasional link to a healthy meal, like this Arugula, Watermelon and Avocado salad from fresh and foodie.

If you like Italian Food, Kristina Gill wrote a guest post on Matt Bites about her reviews of five new Italian cookbooks. Ciao Bella.

And if you scoff at all things healthy, here’s Snoop Dogg to remind you that eating is all about layering. Yes, the Superbowl has passed, but you may have a dip in your future. Remember, seven layers is not EVER enough.

We did it Easter Egg Partytag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a0120a8c9270b970b01538e2044b4970b2011-04-25T22:21:27-07:002011-04-25T22:21:27-07:00Jocelyn doesn't like the Easter Bunny. She was scared of him at first sight, even before a little birdy told her that the bunny bites bad babies. It was a weekend full of hunting. Hunting at Cal, hunting at my aunt and uncle's house. Hunting for chocolate filled eggs that...Papoe

Jocelyn doesn't like the Easter Bunny. She was scared of him at first sight, even before a little birdy told her that the bunny bites bad babies.

It was a weekend full of hunting. Hunting at Cal, hunting at my aunt and uncle's house. Hunting for chocolate filled eggs that would cause a sugar frenzy we haven't seen since Christmas. The girls needed very little prompting to learn the ropes of the egg party.

We did it. And I have about a pound of chocolate to give away. Any takers?